Load suspensions



June 6, 1967 .J. s. HANSON LOAD SUSPENSIONS Filed Dec.

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jsepk 5. Hanson f/ls ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,323,842 LOADSUSPENSIONS Joseph 5. Hanson, Fairlield, Iowa, assignor to The Louder!Machinery Company, Fairlield, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Dec. 3,1964, Ser. No. 415,768 6 Claims. (Cl. 308-2) This invention relates toan improvement in over-head suspension systems and more particularly toa device and means for providing flexibility of movement for hangersuspensions for over-head track and the like.

In the construction and erection of over-head track systems, which areused as monorails or runways for overhead cranes, a long standingproblem has been the need for a certain amount of flexibility in thehanger assembly so that lateral movement of the track can beaccommodated as well as limited longitudinal movement of the track, inorder to prevent repeated bending and resulting fatigue of the hangersupports and brackets. As the crane and its load passes over the track,a certain amount of flexibility must be provided as it has been found inactual practice that the continual bending and strain imposed on thehanger rods and supports eventually leads to the failure due to stressand fatigue in the metal.

A means of avoiding this undesirable result has been one which involvesa ball and socket construction in the hanger assembly. This constructionwould appear to allow motion of the track in all planes; however, it hasbeen found that when a considerable load was suspended from the track,friction between the spherical surfaces of the joint would tend toretard the free movement; resulting in some degree of bending in therods and supports, leading to eventual fatigue and failure.

This invention provides a simple preformed washer or metallic waferwhich is provided with an upper bearing surface allowing tilting motionin one direction and a similarly formed lower bearing surface having apivotal edge which provides tilting motion in a plane or direction 90displaced from that provided by the upper surface so that the shape ofthe two surfaces in combination allow tilting motion in all directions.The tilting wafer or member may be rectangular, square, circular or anyother suitable outline shape to accommodate its installation, as theshape in no way affects its utility or operation. This tilting washer iseconomically manufactured and easily installed in hanger assemblieswithout the necessity of any major alterations or modifications to theexisting hanger support and hanger rods.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a tiltingwasher or wafer for interconnecting a support and a hanger rod toprovide flexibility and universal movement of the suspended loadrelative to the hanger.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a flexible hangerassembly for suspended loads, which is economically and easilymanufactured and which, when installed, requires no attention ormaintenance of any kind.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a unitaryformed wafer member having opposite surfaces, each being provided with acentrally located bevel or pivot edge, and the upper and lower bevelsbeing oriented at right angles to each other, thus providing tiltingaction in two perpendicular planes.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a metallictilting washer or wafer which can be easily installed in existing loadsupports without any necessity of major alteration or modification of.the original installation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and this invention 3,323,842 Patented June 6, 1967Too will be better understood from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointedout in the appendant claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the underside of this invention,partially shown in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of .the upper surface of the subjectmatter of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the tilting washer forming the subject ofthis invention.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are end and side views respectively of the tiltingwasher shown in FIGURE 3, and are shown partially in cross section for abetter understanding of this invention.

FIGURE 6 shows a load bearing assembly with a suspension bracket, thehanger rod and washer in place and shows relative movement of the hangerrod in one plane.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6; however, this shows the sameassembly providing unrestricted freedom of motion of the hanger rod andload in a plane rotated from that shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2,there is shown a rectangular body member 10 which is provided with acentral aperture for the reception of a rod or other circular loadbearing member. The body member 10 is provided on the upper or obversesurface with a bevelled or pivot edge 12 as seen in FIG- URE 2 and alsoin FIGURE 4, and the degree of bevel of the two upper surfaces formed ofthe edge 12 may vary anywhere from 1 to 15 degrees with the horizontal,depending on the amount of tilting action desired on the upper surfaceof the member 10.

The under or reverse surface of the tilting member 10 as seen in FIGURE3 consists of two bevelled planes having central pivot edge 13 which isalso clearly shown in FIGURE 2, as well as FIGURE 5. It is to becarefully noted that the underside pivot edge 13 is oriented 90 from theupper edge 12, and the amount of bevel with respect to the horizontal ofthe lower surface may also vary from 1 to 15 degrees, depending on theamount of tilting action and displacement of the hanger rod desired.

It is important to note that the central aperture 11 is tapered from topto bottom along the axis of the edge 13 and this feature can be seen inFIGURE 4, as well as in the bottom view, FIGURE 3, and this is necessaryto accommodate displacement of the hanger rod when pivoting action takesplace along the top pivot edge 12.

In order to insure that the tilting member 10 remains properly centeredwithin a retaining hole in the hanger in which it is installed, a pairof depending arcuate tabs or ears 14 and 14 are provided on the lowersurface of the member 10, this feature also being shown in FIGURE 1 andFIGURE 5, and this pair of tabs 14 and 14' will thus serve to center thewasher on its support member and prevent lateral displacement in anydirection.

Reference should now be had to FIGURE 6 which shows a portion of anoverhead hanger assembly consisting of the U-shaped bracket 15 in crosssection which is provided with a centrally located hole 16 in its lowerportion. A supporting hanger rod 17 is secured suspended from thebracket 15 by means of the threaded collar 18 which may be adjusted asto vertical position by means of the threads 19 on the upper end of thehanger rod 17. Placed on the upper surface of the U-shaped member is thetilting washer 10 and the view as seen of member 10 in FIGURE 6 is thesame as that view shown in FIGURE 4. Of course, a load such as cranetrack, monorail track or other load requiring flexible mounting issuspended at the lower end of the hanger rod 17 and is not shown.

From the view in FIGURE 6, it will be apparent that the fiatunder-surface 20 of the threaded collar 18 rests 3 on the pivot edge 12of the member thus the entire hanger rod 17 and collar 18 is free topivot or rock from right to left as shown by the dotted line oralternate positions of the rod 17. As seen in FIGURE 4, the internaltaper 11 on the member 10 allows for the sideways swing of the hangerrod 17.

Displacement of the hanger rod 17 in a vertical plane 90 from that shownin FIGURE 6' is shown in FIGURE 7 wherein the support bracket 15 isshown partially in cross section, the view being 90 rotated from theview of FIGURE 6. In this position it is to be noted that the hanger rod17 and threaded collar 18 are free to pivot or oscillate on the lowerpivot edge 13 of the member 10. The pivoting action here is shown by thedotted line or alternate positions of the hanger rod 17 and there is norocking action of the upper surface and pivot edge 12 of the member 10with respect to the under surface 20 of the collar 18. The position ofthe centering tabs 14 and 14 are also shown in FIGURE 7 and it will beseen that they function to maintain the tilting washer 10 centrallylocated within the aperture 16.

From the foregoing description, and particularly with reference toFIGURES 6 and 7, it will be observed that the hanger rod 17 is free tomove throughout a complete 360 range to accommodate movement oralignment of the crane track or load supported thereby. Motion is alsoaccommodated in planes or directions intermediate to those shown inFIGURES 6 and 7. For example, displacement of 45 degrees from eitherside would cause partial tilting on the lower pivot edge 13, as well aspartial tilting of the upper pivot edge 12, thus providing completeflexibility of movement of the support hanger.

This tilting member is easily manufactured as it may be forged, cast andfinished in any desired degree of finish, and the dimensions of themember 10 are not critical and may easily be varied to satisfy theavailable space in "the lower portion of the U-shaped bracket 15. Inmany applications it may be desirable to use a circular washer or member10, and my invention encompasses the use of circular, square or othershapes of member 10 as well as rectangular. Thus, there is provided atilting washer which may be easily inserted and added to existinginstallations without any extensive disassembly being required. In mostcases, the only requirement would be that the aperture 16 is largeenough to accommodate the sidewise play or motion of the hanger rod 17.In installation, it is only necessary to remove the securing nut 18,place the washer 10 in position as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 and replacethe upper collar 18, adjusting it to provide the required support of theload. The angle of the bevel formed on either side of the upper pivot 12and the lower pivot 13 is likewise not critical and bevel angles rangingfrom 5 to 15 have all been found to work satisfactorily when installed.

In practice and in use of this invention it has been found highlyeffective in permitting resilient movement of load supporting hangersand reducing the breakage, bending and fatigue that frequently occurswhen such hanger rods are securely fastened at their upper end andsubjected to bending stresses at the lower end by variations in theposition of the load.

While there have been shown and described particular embodiments of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications can be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a rectangular body member havinga centrally located circular aperture therein, the upper surface of saidbody member having a pivot edge, the axis of said upper pivot edge beingcoincident with the long central axis of said body memher, a pivot edgeon the lowersurface of said body member, the axis of said lower pivotedge being parallel to the short central'axis of said body member andoriented from said upper pivot edge, a pair of depending tabs adjacentsaid central aperture on the lower surface of said body member.

2. A load suspension assembly for providing flexibility between a loadsupporting element and its fixed support, comprising a fixed support anda load supporting element extending from said fixed support, said fixedsupport having a flat upper surface and said load supporting elementhaving a flat bearing surface at one end thereof arranged to bear onsaid flat upper surface of said fixed support; a tilting memberinterposed between said fiat surfaces, said member having a pivot edgeon its upper surface, said member having a pivot edge on its lowersurface, the horizontal axis of said pivot edges being 90 displaced fromeach other, and means for centering and maintaining said member inposition between .said flat surfaces.

3. A load suspension assembly for providing flexibility between a loadsupporting element and its fixed support, comprising a fixed support anda load supporting element extending downwardly from said fixed support,said fixed support having a fiat upper surface and said load supportingelement having a flat bearing surface at one end thereof arranged tobear on said flat upper surface of said fixed support; a flattenedrectangular tilting wafer interposed between said flat surfaces, saidwafer having a pivot edge on its upper surface, said wafer having apivot edge on its lower surface, the horizontal axis of said pivot edgesbeing 90 displaced from each other, and means for centering andmaintaining said wafer in position between said flat surfaces, said lastnamed means being a pair of spaced depending tabs engaging an aperturein said fixed support.

4. In combination with an overhead hanger and a centrally located loadsupporting rod depending there! from through an aperture, a flattenedtilting washer positioned in said hanger, a central aperture in saidtilting washer, a bevelled upper surface on said tilting washer and abevelled lower surface on said tilting'washer, the fulcrum of said lowerbevelled surface being oriented with respect to the fulcrum of saidupper bevelled surface, a load supporting rod extending through saidcentral aperture of said tilting washer and through the aperture of saidhanger, and a threaded collar secured to the upper end of said rod, saidcollar having a fiat under surface wherein said hanger rod is free tomove in one plane by tilting said washer on its lower bevelled edge andfree to move in a plane 90 from said first plane by tilting on the upperbevelled surface of said tilting washer in contact with said uppercollar.

5. In combination with an overhead supporting hanger and a centrallylocated load supporting rod depending therefrom through an aperture, aflattened tilting member positioned in said hanger, a central aperturein said tilting member, a bevelled upper surface on said tilting memberand a bevelled lower surface on said tilting member, the fulcrum of saidlower bevelled surface being oriented 90 with respect to the fulcrum ofsaid upper bevelled surface, a load supporting rod extending throughsaid central aperture of said tilting washer and through the aperture ofsaid hanger, a threaded collar secured to the upper 7 end of said rod,said collar having a fiat under surface wherein said hanger rod is freeto move in one plane by tilting said member on its lower bevelled edgeand free to move in a plane 90 from said first plane by tflting on theupper bevelled surface of said tilting washer in contact with said uppercollar; and means for centering said tilting washer in said supportinghanger.

6. In combination with an overhead supporting hanger and a centrallylocated load supporting rod depending therefrom through an aperture, arectangular shaped tilting member positioned in said hanger, a centralaperture in said tilting member, a bevelled upper surface on saidtilting member and a bevelled lower surface on said tilting member, thefulcrum of said lower bevelled surface being oriented 90 with respect tothe fulcrum of said upper bevelled surface, a load supporting rodextending 5 through said central aperture of said tilting member andthrough the aperture of said hanger, a threaded collar secured to theupper end of said rod, said collar having a fiat under surface whereinsaid hanger rod is free to move in one plane by tilting said member onits lower bevelled edge and free to move in a plane 90 from said firstplane by tilting on the upper bevelled surface of said tilting member incontact with said upper collar; and means for centering said tiltingmember in said supporting hanger, said centering means including a pairof depending tabs on said tilting member arranged to engage the aperturein said supporting hanger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,215 3/1927 Peters 28791 X2,789,457 4/1957 Allen 8550 X 2,829,904 4/1958 Walter 287-21 X 103,095,174 6/1963 Dehn et al. 104111 X ARTHUR L. LA POINT, PrimaryExaminer.

I. E. BABER, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BODY MEMBER HAVINGA CENTRALLY LOCATED CIRCULAR APERTURE THEREIN, THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAIDBODY MEMBER HAVING A PIVOT EDGE, THE AXIS OF SAID UPPER PIVOT EDGE BEINGCOINCIDENT WITH THE LONG CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID BODY MEMBER, A PIVOT EDGEON THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID BODY MEMBER, THE AXIS OF SAID LOWER PIVOTEDGE BEING PARALLEL TO THE SHORT CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND90* ORIENTED FROM SAID UPPER PIVOT EDGE, A PAIR OF DEPENDING TABSADJACENT SAID CENTRAL APERTURE ON THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID BODY MEMBER.